Condé Nast Traveler readers weighed in on this year's Best of the World Readers' Choice Awards, ranking the best hotels, resorts, cities, islands, airlines and cruise lines. Where does the nation's capital stand?
The Best Big U.S. Cities of 2016 according to Condé Nast Traveler readers
15. Austin, Texas
Texas has two cities in Condé Nast Traveler’s “The Best Big U.S. Cities.” Austin has a reputation of being one of the country’s hippest cities.
(Getty Images/iStockphoto/TriciaDaniel)
Getty Images/iStockphoto/TriciaDaniel
14. Minneapolis, Minnesota
The Land of 10,000 Lakes’ most populous city lands at No. 14 in Condé Nast Traveler’s “The Best Big Cities in the U.S.” With abundant culture and outdoor life, there is much to do here all-year round. Even in the winter.
(Getty Images/iStockphoto/RudyBalasko)
Getty Images/iStockphoto/RudyBalasko
13. Nashville, Tennessee
Honky-tonk, country music and more await you in Nashville, No. 13 in Condé Nast Traveler’s “The Best Big Cities in the U.S.”
(Getty Images/iStockphoto/Sean Pavone)
Getty Images/iStockphoto/Sean Pavone
12. San Antonio, Texas
Known for its River Walk and the Alamo, San Antonio lands at No. 12.
(Getty Images/iStockphoto/picturist)
Getty Images/iStockphoto/picturist
11. Washington, D.C.
The seat of government is No. 11 in Condé Nast Traveler’s “The Best Big U.S. Cities.”
(Getty Images/iStockphoto/DavidByronKeener)
Getty Images/iStockphoto/DavidByronKeener
10. San Diego, California
Enjoy tacos and beaches? No. 10 in Condé Nast Traveler’s “The Best Big U.S. Cities” might be the place for you.
(Getty Images/iStockphoto/dansolomonphoto)
Getty Images/iStockphoto/dansolomonphoto
9. Seattle, Washington
The birthplace of a coffee icon, Seattle lands in Condé Nast’s Traveler’s “The Best Big U.S. Cities.”
(Getty Images/iStockphoto/dibrova)
Getty Images/iStockphoto/dibrova
8. Naples, Florida
Colorful Spanish influenced buildings overlooking the water are some of the scenes in Naples, Florida.
(Getty Images/iStockphoto/Meinzahn)
Getty Images/iStockphoto/Meinzahn
7. Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon, is bohemian and eco-friendly. It is No. 7 in Condé Nast Traveler’s “The Best Big U.S. Cities.”
(Getty Images/Ingram Publishing/Ingram Publishing)
Getty Images/Ingram Publishing/Ingram Publishing
6. Boston, Massachusetts
Historic Boston lands at No. 6 in Condé Nast Traveler’s “The Best Big U.S. Cities.”
(Getty Images/iStockphoto/SeanPavonePhoto)
Getty Images/iStockphoto/SeanPavonePhoto
5. New Orleans, Louisiana
The Big Easy lands at No. 5 in Condé Nast Traveler’s “The Best Big U.S. Cities.”
(Getty Images/iStockphoto/GregJK)
Getty Images/iStockphoto/GregJK
4. Honolulu, Hawaii
This Hawaiian city is No. 4 in Condé Nast Traveler’s “The Best Big U.S. Cities.”
(Getty Images/iStockphoto/yuruphoto)
Getty Images/iStockphoto/yuruphoto
3. San Francisco, California
San Francisco lands at No. 3 in Conde Nast Traveler’s “The Best Big U.S. Cities.”
(Getty Images/iStockphoto/Guner_Gulyesil)
Getty Images/iStockphoto/Guner_Gulyesil
2. Chicago, Illinois
The “Second City” earns its nickname as No. 2 in Condé Nast Traveler’s “The Best Big Cities in the U.S.”
(Getty Images/iStockphoto/Timothy_Wang)
Getty Images/iStockphoto/Timothy_Wang
1. New York, New York
NYC lands the No. 1 spot in Condé Nast Traveler’s “The Best Big Cities in the U.S.”
(Getty Images/iStockphoto/TomasSereda)
WASHINGTON — More than 300,000 Condé Nast Traveler readers weighed in on this year’s Best of the World Readers’ Choice Awards, ranking the best hotels, resorts, cities, islands, airlines and cruise lines.
The survey had more than twice as many readers as last year and the results are in.
According to the publication’s readers, the best big U.S. city for travelers is New York City, ranking No. 1 for the second year in a row. The best small U.S. city is Charleston, South Carolina, an honor it has held for six straight years now.
D.C. lands on the Best Big Cities in the U.S. list at No. 11. The nation’s capital gets kudos for all its monuments and museums, but Condé Nast readers also noted D.C.’s craft brewing and restaurant scene.
Jeff Clabaugh has spent 20 years covering the Washington region's economy and financial markets for WTOP as part of a partnership with the Washington Business Journal, and officially joined the WTOP newsroom staff in January 2016.